KOTA KINABALU: The claim by Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) that nothing was being done to address flooding, landslide and public transportation issues in Kota Kinabalu is not true, said Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister Datuk Edward Khoo Keok Hai.
“The report gives the impression that we do not have a plan to address these issues, which is not true. So we want to give more information to the public and let them be in the know of what have been done so there would not be any confusion,” said Khoo, referring to PKR Kota Kinabalu chairperson Christina Liew’s remarks published yesterday.
Christina in a courtesy visit to Mayor Datuk Abidin Madingkir on Thursday, handed over to the latter a memorandum containing requests and proposals on measures to be taken to resolve three perennial issues.
“First, regarding public transportation. DBKK already has the Public Transportation Master Plan, which the cabinet had been briefed in 2006. The government has been trying to implement it since then.
“In fact, the new Mayor in his statement recently had also said he will review and improve the Master Plan,” Khoo said at a press conference after a meeting with Abidin at City Hall.
He added that measures to address the flood problems had been actively taken over the past few years, noting that a special committee had been formed to specifically tackle the issue over a year ago.
The committee, he said, had conducted three meetings and would be having another one soon to discuss planning and implementation of flood mitigation measures.
He added the committee consisting of the Drainage and Irrigation Department, Public Works Department, a number of consultants and engineers from City Hall, had successfully resolved some of the flood-related problems in and around Kota Kinabalu.
“That’s why in the past nine months, even though there had been a lot rain, we did not have flood problems like before.
“DBKK and the relevant authorities have been monitoring, expanding, upgrading and repairing drains to prevent flood, but higher tide level caused by climate change had caused some problems.
“Long-term measures are required to effectively overcome the issue but immediate measures have been taken. The point is, we have been doing a lot of things to address the issue and have effectively overcome flooding in many areas, unlike what was reported that we are not doing anything,” he said.
According to Khoo, the committee through surveys and studies have found that over RM100 million is needed to mitigate flooding in the Menggatal basin alone (the area covers Telipok, Tuaran, Karambunai and Inanam Laut).
For the Lido basin, another RM200 million is required for flood mitigation and the committee is in the process of submitting a proposal to the State Cabinet to request assistance from the federal government.
He added the Drainage and Irrigation Department last year spent RM5 million to resolve some of the problems in the Menggatal basin area.
On Liew urging City Hall to implement the Blue Print for Kota Kinabalu development, the assistant minister said City Hall had developed a Structural Development Master Plan and was already starting to implement it.
The Structural Development Master Plan is one of the five pillars in the Kota Kinabalu Strategic Master Plan. The other four are Sewerage Management, Solid Waste Management, Public Transportation and Landscape Management Master Plan.
All the components are being implemented with relative ease except for the Public Transportation Master Plan which has been facing minor hiccups due to difficulties in acquiring lands for construction of the proposed Southern Terminal.
On issues regarding the difficulties faced by residents in the Kepayan Ridge low-cost apartment, Khoo said City Hall and he himself had been working with the authorities concerned to look into problems faced by those affected.
Residents in the area have been complaining about worrying cracks and structural damage appearing at their flats, apart from very poor condition of the roads there.
“Many misunderstood that Kepayan Ridge is under the Kepayan constituency, but actually it’s under Luyang. But that aside, we have engaged relevant authorities regarding the issues faced by the people there.
“DBKK, and even Assistant Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Yong Oui Fah have been requesting LPPB to improve and upgrade the facilities and road condition in the area,” he said.